Electric time lock for safes



May 28, 1940. J. v. McGUNN 2,202,534

' ELECTRIC TIME LUCK FOR SAFES I Filed July 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN 1 MC eu/v/v Q 'lNVENTOR 2 v PER A 7"7'0/PNE Y J. V. MQGUNN ELECTRIC TIME LOOK FOR SAFES Filed July 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m F GE N 00 R 'M m N T A NW H R mw a w UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE John v. McGunn, Chicago, Ill. 7

Application July 28, 1939, Serial No. 287,079

12 Claims.

This-invention relates to an improved electric time lock for safes, and has, for one of its principal objects, the provision of a lock of the class described which can be applied to the ordinary combination safe, numbers of which are now in use or which can be incorporated into new com-' bination safes as and when built.

One of the important objects is to provide an attachment for a safe whereby of this invention the combination of said safe cannot be operated for opening the safe until after the lapse-f a certain predetermined time. I Another important object of the invention is to provide a special release means whereby the safe may be opened in emergencies without waiting for the predetermined time lapse.

Another and still further object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby a release of the time lock element to permit operation of the usual combination tumblers will automatically break the electrical circuit, thereby shutting off any further and. undesired operation of the time clock device.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a modern time lock for combination safes which, while presenting a device which can be opened in emergencies by the use of the proper equipment, will still foil any attempt of unauthorized persons to break into the safe short of practically destroying the same by an explosion or otherwise.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification. I

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of a safe door having the improved combination or lock of this invention applied thereto.

releasing element.

Figure 5 illustrates one type of special tool which can be used in connection'with the emergency release.

Figure 6 is a plan associated mechanism, a cover being removed.

Figure 7 is a view similar View of the time .clock and of the gear case to Figure ,,6 .but

showing'the gear case cover in position and also illustrating in dotted lines one portion of the emergency release device. I

Figure 8 is aview of the rear face of the time lock, showing the means for predetermining the time of release.

Figure 9 is a detail. sectional view of a safe door equipped with the device of this invention.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the emergency; release in operation.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view illustrating the end of the emergency release shaftand the manner in which the'releasing latch is. fitted thereinto.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken onthe line I2--|2 of Figure 11, showingthe parts in normal position.

Figure 13 is a detail view similarto the showing of Figure 12, but showing'the parts in emergency release position. 1

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally. a portion of a safe door equipped with the usual combination lock comprising a dial i2 and operating knob M, a circular handle I6 and emergency release mechanism l8.

The electric timing portion of the, apparatus is better illustrated in the rear view, Figure 2, which illustrates the cylinders or disks 20 of the combination lock in such-a position that their notches 22 are aligned whereby a slight shift of the entire set 'of cylinders'or tumblers 20 will bring the aligned notches 22 into such position that the inner end of the bar 24 can be retracted into the aligned notches, thereby releasing the safe door 26 for opening movement. As so far recounted, this isxthe usual construction in safe locking'devices of this type; in other words; a set of tumblers with alignable grooves into which a retractible element fits when the grooves are so aligned by proper operation of the combination.

The retraction of the locking rod 24 is accom-' 3 plished by a turning movement of the element I8 whichis fitted intothe face of the safe and which comprises a hollow shaft having a rectangular opening 28 in its inner end into which rectangular opening is fitted a correspondingly square or rectangular end-of a latch shifting member 30 as best shown inFigures 2 and 4.

The pin, 32 passes through a suitable opening in the outer end of the latch-shifting member 30 and into a corresponding opening in the rod. 24-whereby'a turning movement of the operating knob or handle l8 will produce a corresponding motion of the innerend of thelatch-operating member 35] allowing a retraction of the locking bar 24 when the grooves 22 are in position to receive the same.

However, it will be noted that the locking bar operating element 30 is provided at its outer end with a squared projection 34 with which cooperates one end of a trip element 36, this element being pivotally mounted at 38 upon the inside face of the cover 4b of a case 42 which case contains, among other things, the electric timing motor 34 (see Figures 6 and 7).

The electric timing motor M is driven by a current from any desired source of power entering through wires 46, and the motor 44 operates through a speed reduction gear system contained in a housing 38, a shaft 50 having a beveledgear 68 on its end which cooperates with a corresponding gear 52, this gear being mounted on a supporting shaft 64 fixed in the casing 42 and having adapted to rotate therewith a pinion 6B which drives a further gear 68 mounted on a shaft Hi also fixed in the casing 42.

The shaft l0 has at its upper end a cam or projection 72 which rotates therewith and with the gear 68 and as best shown in Figure 7, will, upon each revolution of the shaft 10, push the lever 36 outwardly against the tension of a spring '14, and such action will push the outer end of the latching lever 36 away from looking contact with the nose 34 of the locking bar release element 30. When the latch 36 is in this retracted or outward position, movement of the locking bar handling element 36 will be permitted, whereupon the rod 24 can be retracted into the aligned slots 22 and the safe opened.

A timed operation of the cam 112 with regard to the release lever 36 is predetermined by means of a setting element which comprises a manually rotatable pointer '56 mounted on the shaft Hi fixed in the cover 46 of the gear case 42, and on the inner end of this shaft is a spring pressed paul or series of pauls adapted to cooperate with a circular rack 89 mounted on a shaft l adjacent the cam 12, all as best shown in Figures 6 and 8.

Associated with the pointer 16 is a dial 82 divided into some convenient time indicating spaces such as quarter hours or any other time unit, and it will be obvious that a preliminary setting of the pointer '56 to a point removed from the arrow marked Open which is shown in Figure 8 will immediately predetermine the time at which the end of the latch 38 will be retracted fromthe associated nose or projection 34 of the element 30 whereby an unlocking movement of the rotatable handle l8 and its associated parts "such as the bar 24 will be rendered possible.

The wires it carrying the current are connected in circuit with a contact element 84 mounted on the trip or latch 3% whereby current will be permitted to pass through the wires (it to the motor so long as the latch 36 is in normal position as shown in Figure 2, but as soon as rotative movement of the cam 72 retracts the latch 35, the switch 84 is opened, thereby shutting off the motor which will, accordingly, not then operate so long as the safe is open, but when the safe is again closed and the locking bar 24 shot into locking position as shown in Figure 2, the motor will be again started.

However, an outside switch is provided for the wires 46 which can then be opened again stopping'operation of the motor until such time as itis'desired to again open'the safe, after which this outside'switch must-preliminarily be closed and a setting of the pointer 16 made, whereupon the motor 44 and its associated gear 62 and 68 will again start into operation, and after a correspondingly predetermined length of time, the safe can then be opened by a proper manipulation of the combination l2l4.

An emergency release or means of opening the safe is also provided, this being associated with the hollow operating shaft 8 and including first a special lock comprising a cylinder 86 which is fitted into the hollow outer end of the operatting shaft i8 and which cylinder has one or more projections or other similar locking elements 88 which normally project sideways from the inner end of the cylinder 86 into locking relationship with an annular shoulder 90 formed in the inner face of the sleeve 98. These locking elements 88 are adapted to be retracted on occasion by means of a special key 92 which is preferably also in the form of a hollow cylinder with special notches in one end and which can be fitted into corresponding notches in the locking cylinder Locks of this particular construction are now on the market and do not form any part of my invention.

However, there is an additional locking time release element fitted inside the hollow shaft i8 to which access can be had only after removal of the cylinder 86 in the manner hereinabove described.

This additional release element comprises essentially a rod 9 3 (Figure 3) Which is screwthreadedly fitted into the inner portion of the hollow shaft 8 and the outer end of which is specially notched as shown in Figure 5, thereby providing for the reception of a corresponding operating tool 598. Turning movement of the rod fit by the tool 96 will move it inwardly or outwardly, and the end of the rod 94 is tapered as illustrated at 98, the taper being preferably at an angle of approximately 45- The end of therod 95 is normally in the position shown in Figure 11 whereby an interlocking fit is provided with a recess in that end of the locking bar release element 35! which is fitted into the rectangular opening 28 in the end of the shaft I8 (see Figures 4, 11, 12 and 13).

Retraction of the rod 941 beyond a certain point is prevented by means of a set-screw 19 which is fitted in with a shaft [3 and projects into an elongated recess 2| formed in the adjacent portion of the rod 94. It will be noted that the rod 9 3 is of a greater diameter through the major portion of its length and is of a lesser diameter at the end fitted with the tapered point 98, this forming a shoulder 23 which at the inner limit of movement of the rod 9 contacts a corresponding shoulder 95 in the hollow shaft I8, this also acting to serve as a limit for the inward movement of the rod 9 3, and further acting to provide against any forcible inward driving of the rod 9A through the hollow shaft 18 and also guarding against the introduction of some liquid explosive which safe blowers might otherwise attempt to use- However, sufiicient movement of the rod M is permitted so that in addition to locking the element 30 in position in the end of the shaft IS, a further movement will act against a correspondingly tapered end of a shaft 25 which is fitted into openings in the element 30 as best shown in Figures 4 and 10 to 13 inclusive.

This shaft 25 extends throughout the length of the element 30 and terminates at a point just below the inner end of the-.releaseirod 36 whereby an inward turning movement of the rod 94 by means of the tool 96 will force this rod from the position shown in Figure 12 into the position shown in Figure 13, thereby accordingly causing a longitudinal outward movement of the rod 25 through its support 30 into the position shown in Figure 10 at which time the latch 36 will be sufliciently retracted so'that the nose 34 of the element 30 will be enabled to pass under the latch 36 upon a rotative movement of the outer end of the shaft l8, allowing an opening of the safe.

A helical spring 21 surrounds the shaft 25 and tends to return the same to'normal position as shown in Figure 12 upon a retractive turning of the rod 94 by means of a tool 96. Obviously,

only special agents or employees of theoriginal safe company will be provided with the keys 92 and the tools 96 so that opening of the safe by means of such tools or keys will be possible only by calling upon such a special agent or messenger for a visit to the safe to accomplish the purpose in mind.

It will be seen that herein is provided a simple yet effective time lock for combination safes which can be readily applied to safes oi the class described, either new safes or old ones already in use without any great additional expense and which, at the same time, will be very effective in preventing burglaries which might otherwise take place. Further, the device is simple and being composed of a relatively small number of operating parts is not very likely to get out of order and will always be effective so long as a supply of current is available. Additionally, if anything does go wrong, the emergency release may be brought in play with no excessive loss of time or added expense.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction Varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, i do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric time lock for safes, including a retractible locking bolt, means on the outside of the safe door for manually retracting the bolt, control means on the inside of the safe for predetermining a time at which such manual retraction may take place, said control means including an electric clock mechanism, a rotatable setting pointer on the clock, a latch associated with the clock mechanism, the end of the latch acting against the bolt retracting means to normally retain the same in non-bolt retracting position,

gear and cam means operated by the clock mechanism for moving the latch out of bolt locking position and an emergency release for the manually retractable bolt.

2. A time release mechanism for safe locks including a latch acting against the retractor for the safe bolt, an electric clock mechanism, means for supplying current to the electric clock mechanism for a predetermined time for releasing the latch at the expiration of such time, said means including a cam acting against the latch and means operated by the clock for rotating the ,cam, together with a make and break for the current mounted on the latch mechanism.

3. A time release mechanism for safe locks including a latch acting against the retractor for the safe bolt, an electric'clock mechanism, means for supplying current to the electric clock mechanism for a predetermined time for releasing the the safe bolt, an electric clock mechanism, means for supplying current to the electric clock mechanism for a predetermined time for releasing the latch at the expiration of such time, said means including a cam acting against the latch and means operated by the clock for rotating the cam, a make and break for the current mounted on the latch mechanism, and a manual safe bolt retracting element mounted in the safe door, said manual bolt retracting element operable only when the latch and its electrical contact point are in open position.

5. A time release mechanism for safe locks in-' cluding a latch acting against the retractor for the safe bolt, an electric clock mechanism, means for supplying current to the electric clock mechanism for a predetermined time for releasing the latch at the expiration of such time, said means including a cam acting against thelatch and means operated by the clock for rotating the cam, a make and break for the current mounted on the latch mechanism, a manual safe bolt retracting element mounted in the safe door, said manual bolt retracting element operable only when the latch and its electrical contact point are in open position, together with emergency release means associated with the manual safe bolt retracting element.

6. A time release mechanism for safe locks including alatch acting against the retractor for the safe bolt, an electric clock mechanism, means for supplying current to the electric clock mechanism for a predetermined time for releasing the latch at the expiration of such time, said means including a .cam acting against the latch and means operated'by the clock for rotating the cam, a make and break for the current mounted on the latch mechanism, a manual safe bolt retracting element mounted in the safe door, said manual bolt retracting element operable only when the latch and its electrical contact point are in open position, together with emer-' gency release means associated with the manual safe bolt retracting element, said manual release means including a lock operable only by a master key. l

7. A time releasemechanism for safe locks including a latch acting against the retractor for the safe bolt, an electric clock mechanism, means for supplying current to the electric clock mechanism for a predetermined time for releasing the latch at the expiration of such time, said means including a cam acting against the latch and means operated by the clock for rotating the cam, a make and break for the current mounted on the latch mechanism, a manual safe bolt retract- 1 ing element mounted in the safe door, said manual bolt retracting element operable only when the latch and its electrical contact point arein open position, emergency release means associated with the manual safe bolt retracting element, said anism for a predetermined time for releasing the,

latch at' the expiration of such time, said means including a cam acting against the latch and means operated by the clock for rotating the cam, a make and break for the current mounted on the latch mechanism, a manual safebolt retracting element mounted in'the safe' door, said manual bolt retracting element operable only when the latch and its electrical contact point are in open position, emergency release means associated with the manual safe bolt retracting element, said manual release means including a lock operable only by a master key, and further including manually operated means for opening the'release latch, said means comprising a bar rotatably mounted in the manually operated release means, a further bar slidably mounted in the bolt retracting connection, and means whereby the end of the one bar pushed against the end of the second bar will release the latch.

9. A time release mechanism for safe locks including a latch acting against the retractor for the safe bolt, an electric clock mechanism, means for supplying current to the electric clock mechanism for a predetermined time for releasing the latch at the expiration of such time, said means including a cam acting against the latch and means operated by the clock for rotating the cam, a make and break for the current mounted on the latch mechanism, a manual safe bolt retracting element mounted in the safe door, said manual bolt retracting element operable only when the latch and its electrical contact point are in open position, emergency release means associated with the manual safe bolt retracting element, said manual release means including a lock operable only by a master key, and further including manually operated means for opening the release latch, said means comprising a bar rotatably mounted in the manually operated release means, a further bar slidably mounted in the bolt retractin connection, and means whereby the end of the one bar pushed against the end of the second bar will release the latch, the bars being each accordingly tapered at angles of approximately at their contacting ends.

10. A time release mechanism for safe locks including a latch acting against the retractor for the safe bolt, an electric clock mechanism, means for supplying current to the electric clock mechanism for a predetermined time for releasing the latch at the expiration of such time, said means including a cam acting against the latch and means operated by the clock for rotating the earn, a make and break for the current mounted on the latch mechanism, a manual safe bolt retracting element mounted in the safe door, said manual bolt retracting element operable only when the latch and its electrical contact point are in open position, emergency release means associated with the manual safe bolt retracting element, said manual release means including a lock operable only by a master key, and further including manually operated means for opening the release latch, said means comprising a bar rotatably mounted in the manually operated release means, a further bar slidably mounted in the bolt retracting connection, means whereby the end of the one bar pushed against the end of the aeoasee the safe bolt, an electric clock mechanism, means second bar will release the latch, the bars being each accordingly taper-ed at angles of approximately 45 at their contacting ends, and spring means for normally returning the latch releasing bar to inoperative position.

11. A time release mechanism for safe locks including a latch acting against the retractor for the safe bolt, an electric clock mechanism, means for supplying current to the electric clock mechanism for a predetermined time for releasing the latch at the expiration of such time, said means including a cam acting against the latch and means operated by the clock for rotating the cam, a make and break for the current mounted on the latch mechanism, a manual safe bolt retract- 7 mounted in the manually operated release means,

a further bar slidably mounted in the bolt retracting connection, means whereby the end of the one bar pushed against the end of the second bar will release the latch, the bars being each accordingly tapered at angles of approximately 45 at their contacting ends, and spring means for normally returning the latch releasing bar to inoperative position, the first bar further acting as a connection between the rotatable manually operated release means and the bolt releasing element mounted on the end of the release means.

12. A time release mechanism for safe locks including a latch acting against the retractor for the safe bolt, an electric clock mechanism, means for supplying current to the electric clock mech anism for a predetermined time for releasing the latch at the expiration of such time, said means including a cam acting against the latch and means operated by the clock for rotating the cam, a make and break for the current mounted on the latch mechanism, a manual safe bolt retracting element mounted in the safe door, said manual bolt retracting element operable only when the latch and its electrical contact point are in open'position, emergency release means associated with the manual safe bolt retracting element, said manual release means including a lock operable only by a master key, and further including manually operated means for opening the release latch, said means comprising a bar rotatably mounted in the manually operated release means,

a further bar slidably mounted in the bolt retracting connection, means whereby the end of the one bar pushed against the end of the second bar will release the latch, the bars being each accordingly tapered at angles of approximatelyv 45 at theircontacting ends, spring means for normally returning the latch releasing bar to inoperative position, the first bar further acting as a connection between the rotatable manually operated release means and the bolt releasing, 

